This stretches the shock cord attached to the top. A small wooden ball is locked into a slot (just like on the board rack) When you tug on the string the ball comes out of the slot and the flag pops up!

I will work on some clamps, I am manager of plastic injection molding business and the tooling shop that makes the molds. My primary role is to Design and program the CNC on CAM software. Nice job. My website is http://www.oryanindustries.com

Dave my youngest and I put it together in about 1hr. Its just some shock cord tied to the top of the tube. the other end is tied to the flag. We drilled a hole in the flag. The flag should be in the "up" position. Attach another string to the flag and out the bottom. Pull the string untill the flag is "down" , attach a round bead to the string just out of the tube. This will fit into the slot you will cut into the bottom of the tube.

Mike, thanks! Ive been looking for something better for a while. The auto flag only weighs a pound or two.

Wes - I understand the concept. Great idea. I have one question however, How do you lower the flag again. If I understand this correctly, the string is clipped onto the bottom of the pole when the flag is down. You release this string and the bungie tightens and raises the flag. But doesn't the string go back into the tube? Or do you tie a knot half way up the string and use it for the down lock. That way when the flag is up, the knot is inside the tube, but there is enough string still hanging out the bottom that you can tighten it back up. Just curious.

Great job with it. If I lived in a state that required a flag, I would model one after your design.